News & Legal Updates

For many years now the law has been quite clear that pavements running along the sides of roads are safe places.  If a pedestrian is on the pavement and is hit by a passing vehicle, the driver is always 100% to blame, and the pedestrian is never at fault.  Neither can the driver argue that … Continue reading "Where the road ends…and the pavement begins"

Background: In November 2014 I published an article considering the Scottish Government’s initial consultation which aimed to develop and modernise Scottish Tenancy Law. The article concluded that whilst the purpose of the proposed changes was laudable, there were several aspects that required greater consideration. The Scottish Government has since issued fresh proposals in March 2015, … Continue reading "Scottish Government issue second version of proposed changes to Tenancy Law"

Blackadders are delighted to be sponsors of the IoD’s latest seminar, held at the Doubletree by Hilton Dundee on 29 April 2015. This is the fourth in a series of Scottish seminars in response to requests from IoD members for clarity on the range of funding sources currently available to support their business needs. There … Continue reading "Institute of Directors Workshop – Raising Finance for Business Workshop"

The recent Supreme Court case of Montgomery against Lanarkshire Health Board has made a fairly momentous decision in the field of patients’ rights when it comes to consenting to medical treatment. Mrs Montgomery was a small lady who is also diabetic.   When she became pregnant there was a risk that because of her small stature … Continue reading "DEVELOPMENTS IN PATIENTS’ RIGHTS"

  Blackadders Solicitors are delighted to announce the promotion of seven members of the legal team as of 1 April 2015. Simon Allison, partner in Employment Law, has been appointed as Head of Employment, taking over from the incumbent Sandy Meiklejohn. Simon is ranked as a leading individual in Chambers UK and is accredited by … Continue reading "Simon Allison new Head of Employment as Blackadders announces seven promotions"

When members of the public are talking to lawyers about court cases, a question often asked is “How do you prove all this?  How do you prove that something happened in a particular way if nobody saw it, or if the witnesses all say different things?” Sherlock Holmes once said “When you have eliminated the … Continue reading "The Sherlock Factor"

The news has just broken that a new Act has been passed to be known as the Insurance Act 2015.  Though little has been said about it in the press, it actually makes some quite important changes in the law and should be greatly appreciated by consumers holding insurance policies. Jekyll and Hyde For many … Continue reading "Good News For Insurance Policy Holders"

Blackadders are delighted to announce that we are now authorised by the Law Society of Scotland to offer Trainee Continuing Professional Development (TCPD) workshops. TCPD is structured learning undertaken over and above your office commitments, with a view to such learning assisting your achievement of the PEAT 2 outcomes. Blackadders are proud to be able to offer … Continue reading "Blackadders Launch TCPD Workshops"

Alastair Johnston, a solicitor within Blackadders’ Dispute Resolution Department, considers the impact of the extension of Debt Arrangement Scheme protection to businesses. The Debt Arrangement Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2014 are partially in force and will be fully implemented in April of this year. These regulations will bring the increasingly popular Debt Arrangement Scheme (‘DAS’) … Continue reading "Debt Arrangement Scheme for business not fit for business purposes?"

When people are injured at their workplace due to unsafe premises or unsafe equipment, they could be forgiven for thinking that they have a fairly clear claim.  Often this is the case.  However, the statutory duties which employers have tend to be restricted to workplaces, and liability for faulty equipment is generally limited to “work … Continue reading "Pole-Axed, or, when is a person at work not at work?"